Rachel Andric and Final Death

Prologue: The Fourth Choice

The heart of The Story was quiet as the young woman stepped in front of The Story book. She stood there for what felt like ages until the young man finally turned up. "What took you so long?" she asked. "If she finds out we're here, it'll mean Final Death for the both of us."

"Do you think I wanted to be so late?" he answered, running a hand through his ginger hair. "Do you know how difficult it was for me to get here without her finding out? Why are we here, anyway?"

"I've spoken to Merlin," the young woman told him. "It's been some time since The Story came into being. I wondered what was going to happen, if everything would settle down, so I went to see him. He had grave news for me."

"Since when does Merlin have news that isn't grave?" he asked. When she frowned at him, he relented. "Alright, fine. What kind of grave news?"

"The Story is flawed. Anyone can get to the heart and rewrite it any way they want," she said. "Guardians can do nothing. I have taken it into great consideration, and as a Guardian, I've determined the way to fix it."

"Do tell."

"We need to make it so it has to be very specific people who can rewrite The Story," she explained. "The blood of four must be used for the ink, and without their blood it will be impossible."

"And who shall these four be?" the young man asked in a sarcastic voice. "They can't be just anyone, you know."

"I know," she agreed. "Merlin has aided me in choosing. He has foreseen his own death, very soon, and his replacement will be the only Guardian who will choose to be written into The Story. He will be one of the four. Her son, of course, will be the second." He pursed his lips. "The girl who will become the last Guardian will be the third."

"And what about the fourth?" he asked.

"Ah, the fourth," the young woman said, with a grim smile. "I know who will be the fourth. As for why... she will be the most important of them all."